Reckless Driving Lawyer in Fort Myers

Criminal Defense for Florida’s Most Misunderstood Traffic Charge

A reckless driving charge isn’t a traffic ticket you pay and move on from. Under Florida Statute 316.192, it’s a criminal offense that can put you in jail, suspend your license, and leave a permanent record. We represent clients facing this charge throughout Fort Myers and Lee County, and we approach each case the way it deserves: as a criminal matter with real stakes.

At Calvo & Calvo, Attorneys at Law, our attorneys bring more than 40 years of combined legal experience to criminal defense. Our team includes former prosecutors who know exactly how the state builds these cases, which means we know where to look for weaknesses before the first hearing.

What Florida’s Reckless Driving Law Actually Means

Florida Statute 316.192 defines reckless driving as operating a vehicle with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. That phrase (willful or wanton disregard) is the legal heart of the charge, and it’s more demanding than it sounds. Speed alone, even well above the posted limit, doesn’t automatically satisfy it. Courts weigh factors like traffic density, road conditions, and whether signals were ignored. The prosecution has to prove a conscious choice to disregard safety, not just a lapse in judgment.

That distinction matters, because careless driving under Florida Statute 316.1925 covers exactly the lapse-in-judgment scenario and is a civil infraction, not a crime. No criminal record, no jail exposure. The line between the two charges can affect how your case is resolved.

Penalty Tiers Under Florida Law

The severity of a reckless driving charge depends on what happened during the incident:

• Second-degree misdemeanor: A first conviction with no injury or property damage. Up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine.
• First-degree misdemeanor: When the incident involves property damage or a non-serious injury. Up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
• Third-degree felony: When serious bodily injury results. Up to five years in prison.

Every conviction also adds four points to your driver’s license record. Point accumulation can trigger license suspension on top of any court-imposed penalties. For drivers who depend on their license for work, that consequence can be just as serious as the fine itself.

Why Fort Myers Drivers Choose Calvo & Calvo, Attorneys at Law

Reckless driving turns on a subjective legal standard. Defending or resolving these cases takes a defense built around that standard, not a generic traffic-court playbook. Here’s what we bring to that work:

Board-Certified Trial Skill

Co-founder Katheryn Calvo is Board-Certified in Criminal Trial Law by the Florida Bar, a credential held by a small percentage of Florida lawyers. She’s the only female attorney in Lee County with this certification. Board Certification reflects a demonstrated, peer-reviewed level of competence in criminal litigation that goes beyond standard licensure.

Former-Prosecutor Insight

Understanding how the state builds a reckless driving case is different from knowing how to defend one. Because our attorneys have worked as prosecutors, we read charging documents and evidence with the same eyes that assembled them. We know which arguments the state leans on, where those arguments are vulnerable, and how to use that knowledge against the prosecution’s narrative.

Local Court Familiarity

We practice in Lee County courts every day. Our attorneys know the local judges and prosecutors within the 20th Judicial Circuit, and that familiarity shapes how we approach negotiations, which arguments land, and how to position your case as effectively as possible.

Personalized Attention

We don’t run a volume practice. Each client gets a defense strategy built around their specific facts, not a template applied across hundreds of similar files. You’ll know who is handling your case, and you’ll be able to reach them.

We also offer bilingual services. A key attorney at our firm is fluent in both English and Spanish, so language isn’t a barrier to understanding your rights or the process ahead.

What Happens After a Reckless Driving Charge in Lee County

Criminal traffic cases in Lee County, including reckless driving, are heard at the Lee County Justice Center in Fort Myers. Unlike a standard traffic infraction where an attorney can often handle court appearances on your behalf, Florida law may require your personal appearance for a criminal traffic charge. We walk clients through exactly what to expect and help them prepare.

Defense strategies vary by the facts of your case. Common approaches include:

• Challenging the legal basis for the traffic stop
• Cross-examining the citing officer
• Reviewing dashcam or body camera footage
• Arguing that the conduct charged falls under careless driving rather than the criminal reckless standard

In cases where a DUI was originally suspected, reckless driving sometimes emerges as a negotiated charge. Our former-prosecutor background gives us direct experience with how those negotiations unfold and what the state may be willing to accept.

We also have a track record of helping clients seek reductions from felony charges to misdemeanors and pursue having records expunged or sealed when eligibility allows. And if you’re located out of state or abroad, we can work with you remotely. Distance doesn’t have to mean limited access to a strong defense.

Talk to Our Fort Myers Criminal Defense Team

A reckless driving charge can feel overwhelming when you’re not sure what comes next. From the first conversation, our goal is to give you clear answers, a realistic picture of your situation, and a defense strategy you understand and trust. We answer questions promptly, keep you informed at every step, and treat your case with the seriousness it deserves.